AMD Jumps Ahead In Home-Networking Market

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June 24, 1998 (4:59 PM EDT)

Advanced Micro Devices is quietly getting a jump in the embryonic, home-networking integrated circuit market by shipping a new line Ethernet chips for use in a product being developed by Tut Systems, Pleasant Hill, Calif., according to sources.

AMD, Sunnyvale, Calif., is shipping its so-called PCNet line of 1- and 10-megabit per second, Ethernet-based chips for use in Tut's so-called HomeRun product line, a system that promises to link home PCs over existing copper wires. HomeRun, to be sold by Tut and others, will be available in retail stores later this year.

AMD (company profile) and Tut are no strangers. Last month, AMD and Tut signed a deal to co-develop 1- and 10-Mbit/s chips. Earlier this week, AMD, Tut, and nine other companies formed a new consortium called the Home Phoneline Network Alliance (HPNA).

AMD won't be the only LAN chip supplier racing to develop products for HomeRun-based products, however. Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel (company profile) , one of the world's largest suppliers of LAN chips, is also quietly readying a new line of 1- and 10-Mbit Ethernet chips.

And, Epigram, a new, Sunnyvale, Calif.-based start-up and HPNA member, is also developing a similar family of ICs, sources added. Even non-HPNA members may get into the act, reportedly including AMD's new LAN chip partner, Davicom Semiconductor, Sunnyvale, Calif. AMD is reselling Davicom's line of physical-layer, fast Ethernet-based chips.